Name: #Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society
Start: 2025-12-09T09:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-12-12T18:00:00+01:00
Location: United Nations, Vienna, Austria

#Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society

from Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (9:00 AM) to Friday, December 12, 2025 (6:00 PM)

Monday, December 8, 2025
Tuesday, December 9, 2025

9:00 AM Registration and coffee/tea
Registration and coffee/tea
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Room: Boardroom D

10:00 AM Welcome
Welcome
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Room: Boardroom D

10:30 AM

10:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Room: Boardroom D

10:50 AM Keynote - International Astronomical Union
Keynote - International Astronomical Union
10:50 AM - 11:05 AM
Room: Boardroom D

11:05 AM Keynote - International Telecommunication Union
Keynote - International Telecommunication Union
11:05 AM - 11:20 AM
Room: Boardroom D
11:20 AM Session 1 - impact assessment after 3 years of observations - Ammar Eissa Mohammed Abdulla (Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, UAE) Gregory Hellbourg (California Institute of Technology, USA) Cui Chenzhou (National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Piero Benvenuti (Chair - Director of IAU Centre for Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies (CPS)) Meredith Rawls (University of Washington/Vera C. Rubin Observatory, USA)
Session 1 - impact assessment after 3 years of observations
- Ammar Eissa Mohammed Abdulla (Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, UAE)
- Gregory Hellbourg (California Institute of Technology, USA)
- Cui Chenzhou (National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
- Piero Benvenuti (Chair - Director of IAU Centre for Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies (CPS))
- Meredith Rawls (University of Washington/Vera C. Rubin Observatory, USA)
11:20 AM - 12:45 PM
Room: Boardroom D
12:45 PM Pitch - impact assessment - Narae Hwang (Korea Astonomy and Space Science Institute) Biruk Abte (Space science and geospatial institute, Eithiopia) Ericsson López Izurieta (Quito Astronomical Observatory, Ecuador)
Pitch - impact assessment
- Narae Hwang (Korea Astonomy and Space Science Institute)
- Biruk Abte (Space science and geospatial institute, Eithiopia)
- Ericsson López Izurieta (Quito Astronomical Observatory, Ecuador)
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
Room: Boardroom D
1:00 PM Lunch
Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Room: Cafeteria
2:00 PM Session 2 - status of astronomers mitigation actions - Nicolas Cerardi (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland) Constance Walker (IAU CPS and NSF NOIRLab, USA) Olivier Hainaut (ESO) Erick Meza Quispe (Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA) Beatrice Kioko (Chair - European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO)) Federico Di Vruno (SKAO)
Session 2 - status of astronomers mitigation actions
- Nicolas Cerardi (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland)
- Constance Walker (IAU CPS and NSF NOIRLab, USA)
- Olivier Hainaut (ESO)
- Erick Meza Quispe (Peruvian Space Agency CONIDA)
- Beatrice Kioko (Chair - European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO))
- Federico Di Vruno (SKAO)
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: Boardroom D
3:15 PM Pitch - mitigation actions - Stanislav Karpikov (StealthTransit Laboratories, Germany) Nacera Bekhadda (Algerian Space Agency) Sarah Thiele (Princeton University, USA)
Pitch - mitigation actions
- Stanislav Karpikov (StealthTransit Laboratories, Germany)
- Nacera Bekhadda (Algerian Space Agency)
- Sarah Thiele (Princeton University, USA)
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Room: Boardroom D
3:30 PM Break
Break
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Room: CO4
4:00 PM Pitch - other activities impacted - Vachik Khachatryan (Space42, Armenia) Ruskin Hartley (DarkSky International, USA)
Pitch - other activities impacted
- Vachik Khachatryan (Space42, Armenia)
- Ruskin Hartley (DarkSky International, USA)
4:00 PM - 4:10 PM
Room: Boardroom D
4:10 PM Panel 1 - keeping a balance to preserve social and cultural use of dark and quiet skies
Panel 1 - keeping a balance to preserve social and cultural use of dark and quiet skies
4:10 PM - 5:40 PM
Room: Boardroom D

5:40 PM Wrap-up and information for Day-2 & ADJOURN
Wrap-up and information for Day-2 & ADJOURN
5:40 PM - 6:00 PM
Room: Boardroom D
Wednesday, December 10, 2025

9:30 AM Coffee/tea
Coffee/tea
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Room: Boardroom D

10:00 AM Keynote on satellite constellations
Keynote on satellite constellations
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Room: Boardroom D
10:20 AM Session 3 - satellite constellation projects review - Xu Yanbin (China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd) Natalia Vicente (Chair & Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA)) Thibaut Maury Micolier (Secure connectivity and space surveillance Unit, European Commission) Ilsa Mroz (Planet, USA)
Session 3 - satellite constellation projects review
- Xu Yanbin (China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd)
- Natalia Vicente (Chair & Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA))
- Thibaut Maury Micolier (Secure connectivity and space surveillance Unit, European Commission)
- Ilsa Mroz (Planet, USA)
10:20 AM - 11:05 AM
Room: Boardroom D
11:05 AM Session 4 - role of academia and governmental organisations to foster mitigation actions - Jessica Dempsey (Chair & Director of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)) Jan Siminski (European Space Agency) Astha . (University of Surrey, UK) Funmilola Oluwafemi (National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria) Roohi Dalal (American Astronomical Society, USA)
Session 4 - role of academia and governmental organisations to foster mitigation actions
- Jessica Dempsey (Chair & Director of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON))
- Jan Siminski (European Space Agency)
- Astha . (University of Surrey, UK)
- Funmilola Oluwafemi (National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria)
- Roohi Dalal (American Astronomical Society, USA)
11:05 AM - 12:05 PM
Room: Boardroom D
12:05 PM Pitch - looking to the future and learning from other sectors - Kristina Vukosavljević (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands) Stefan Wallner (Slovak Academy of Sciences) Megan Perks (University of Southampton, UK)
Pitch - looking to the future and learning from other sectors
- Kristina Vukosavljević (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands)
- Stefan Wallner (Slovak Academy of Sciences)
- Megan Perks (University of Southampton, UK)
12:05 PM - 12:15 PM
Room: Boardroom D
12:15 PM Group picture
Group picture
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Room: Rotunda

12:30 PM Lunch
Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Room: Cafeteria

1:30 PM Panel 2 - satellite industry mitigation: who tried what?
Panel 2 - satellite industry mitigation: who tried what?
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Room: Boardroom D
3:00 PM Pitch - industry mitigation actions - Agnieszka Sybilska (Sybilla Technologies) Andrew Lawrence (University of Edinburgh, UK) Ryan Moodie (35 Northumbria, UK)
Pitch - industry mitigation actions
- Agnieszka Sybilska (Sybilla Technologies)
- Andrew Lawrence (University of Edinburgh, UK)
- Ryan Moodie (35 Northumbria, UK)
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: Boardroom D
3:15 PM Break
Break
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room: CO4
3:45 PM Session 5 - Interactions astronomers, industry and regulators: lessons learnt - Mamantha Maheshwarappa (Chair & UK Space Agency) Joan Chepkemoi (Kenya Space Agency) Siegfried Eggl (University of Illinois-Champaign, Austria/USA) Tebogo Mashile (Department of Science Techonology and Innovation, South Africa) Audrey Allison (Aerospace Corporation, USA)
Session 5 - Interactions astronomers, industry and regulators: lessons learnt
- Mamantha Maheshwarappa (Chair & UK Space Agency)
- Joan Chepkemoi (Kenya Space Agency)
- Siegfried Eggl (University of Illinois-Champaign, Austria/USA)
- Tebogo Mashile (Department of Science Techonology and Innovation, South Africa)
- Audrey Allison (Aerospace Corporation, USA)
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Room: Boardroom D
4:45 PM PANEL 3 - Interactions astronomers/industry: gaps identified and proposals
PANEL 3 - Interactions astronomers/industry: gaps identified and proposals
4:45 PM - 5:55 PM
Room: Boardroom D

5:55 PM Wrap-up and information for Day-3
Wrap-up and information for Day-3
5:55 PM - 6:00 PM
Room: Boardroom D

6:00 PM Networking reception
Networking reception
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Room: Mozart Room
Thursday, December 11, 2025

9:30 AM Coffee/Tea
Coffee/Tea
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Room: CO4

10:00 AM Keynote on Outer Space Treaty high-level principles
Keynote on Outer Space Treaty high-level principles
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Room: Boardroom D
10:20 AM Session 6 - regulatory initiatives started at national level: status and lessons learnt - Andrew Macpherson (Chair, SKAO) Hafiz Umer Hameed Khan (Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)) Marcelo Colazo (Argentina National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE)) Eduardo Unda-Sanzana (Universidad de Antofagasta, Director of the Astronomy Center (VITEVA), Chile) Yana Yakushina (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group) Marieta Valdivia (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group) Nompucuko Nontombana (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa)
Session 6 - regulatory initiatives started at national level: status and lessons learnt
- Andrew Macpherson (Chair, SKAO)
- Hafiz Umer Hameed Khan (Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO))
- Marcelo Colazo (Argentina National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE))
- Eduardo Unda-Sanzana (Universidad de Antofagasta, Director of the Astronomy Center (VITEVA), Chile)
- Yana Yakushina (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group)
- Marieta Valdivia (IAU CPS Policy Hub, National Analysis Group)
- Nompucuko Nontombana (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa)
10:20 AM - 11:40 AM
Room: Boardroom D
11:40 AM Panel 4 - achieving success at COPUOUS: lessons learnt
Panel 4 - achieving success at COPUOUS: lessons learnt
11:40 AM - 1:00 PM
Room: Boardroom D

1:00 PM Lunch
Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Room: Cafeteria
2:00 PM Session 7 - Proposals and schedule of preparation until STSC/COPUOS 2026 - Federico Di Vruno (Chair, SKAO) Marcos Granados Gómez (Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN in Vienna) Richard Green (University of Arizona/International Astronomical Union and Group of Friends of the Dark & Quiet Sky, USA) Giuliana Rotola (International Astronomical Union CPS Policy Hub Co-Lead) Aaron Boley (University of British Columbia, Canada) Tarcisio Bakaus (ANATEL National Telecommuniations Agency of Brazil) Rafael Moro Aguilar (Florida International University, USA/Spain)
Session 7 - Proposals and schedule of preparation until STSC/COPUOS 2026
- Federico Di Vruno (Chair, SKAO)
- Marcos Granados Gómez (Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN in Vienna)
- Richard Green (University of Arizona/International Astronomical Union and Group of Friends of the Dark & Quiet Sky, USA)
- Giuliana Rotola (International Astronomical Union CPS Policy Hub Co-Lead)
- Aaron Boley (University of British Columbia, Canada)
- Tarcisio Bakaus (ANATEL National Telecommuniations Agency of Brazil)
- Rafael Moro Aguilar (Florida International University, USA/Spain)
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Room: Boardroom D
3:15 PM Break
Break
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Room: CO4

3:45 PM Panel 5 - looking forward to STSC-2026
Panel 5 - looking forward to STSC-2026
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Room: Boardroom D

5:00 PM End of workshop
End of workshop
5:00 PM - 5:01 PM
Room: Boardroom D
Friday, December 12, 2025

9:00 AM SCENARIO: "2031: A (Near Earth) Space Odyssey" - FULL AGENDA & SCENARIO AVAILABLE IN THE LEFT COLUMN 'FRIDAY'S SCENARIO'
SCENARIO: "2031: A (Near Earth) Space Odyssey" - FULL AGENDA & SCENARIO AVAILABLE IN THE LEFT COLUMN 'FRIDAY'S SCENARIO'
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Room: CO4, Boardroom D, Workshop rooms.